Sexual Assault: A List Of Urgent Actions Every Victim Has To Take
Sexual assault affects the victim emotionally and physically. Every victim should take necessary actions within some stipulated time frame. These actions should be treated with utmost urgency as all are to provide the necessary support required for the victim to overcome the shock and other affects that follows.
Get To Safety
If you’ve been sexually violated, the first thing is to find your way to a safe place where the act was committed. You may consider a move to a close friend’s place if you live alone or go to a family member’s residence.
If you’re able to, tell someone you can trust and who is matured enough to understand what sexual violence is.
Get Medical Treatment
Before going to the police or meeting with organizations to receive necessary support when raped, medical treatment comes first. Injuries sustained in the assault are attended to when you go for adequate medical treatment. Your doctor will among others give better guidance on the appropriate contraception to use during this period to prevent pregnancy. Be confident that doctors will handle your treatment with utmost confidenciality.
Get A Check-Up For Sexually Transmitted Diseases
In a rape incident, the need to go for a test on sexually transmitted infection is crucial to the victims’ health. You don’t need to have any form of feeling before this is done. Get back to the hospital for more detailed tests on HIV and other tests necessary if you haven’t already done so in your first treatment.
Make A Report To The Police
This is one aspect that many people are not too comfortable doing. It may be a long process that you may think will add more pains to what you are already suffering. You may want to keep silent about this but it is better if reported. Sexual assault can be reported at any time you are comfortable doing.
However, it makes investigations more effective for the police to do if reported in time. Physical evidence which is important in the investigation may be lost if the report is done at a later period.
Get Support
Sexual assault affects the victim psychology and emotions. It is a time of pains and a lot of trauma. You shouldn’t keep to yourself at this time. Share with anti-sexual violence organizations to help you not to only get justice but also provide the necessary counsel and rehabilitation you may need at this time.
